Fashion & Beauty

Raquel Welch Through the Years

An appreciation in pictures

Glamour Girl

In 1966, the year this glamorous portrait was taken, Raquel Welch was a 26-year-old actress (and divorced mother of two), newly catapulted to fame from her portrayal of a sexy cavewoman in One Million Years B.C. (Yes, the famous photo of a bikini-clad Welch is part of this slideshow.)

1 of 16

1964: Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

Elvis!

Can you spot Raquel? Hint: She's wearing a headband. The 1964 Elvis Presley film Roustabout was Welch's big screen debut.

2 of 16

1966: Everett Collection

The Bikini

Although her character in One Million Years B.C. speaks but a single line, the poster of Welch in her doe-skin bikini — described by a critic as "mankind's first bikini" — became a best-seller.

3 of 16

1968: 20th Centurty Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

'Bandolero!'

In this western, Welch plays a woman who falls in love with her captor, a bank robber played by Rat Pack crooner Dean Martin.

4 of 16

1968: Terry O’Neill/Getty Images

Leading Lady

In her 1964 movie with Elvis, Welch was just one of the girls. Four years later, she was Frank Sinatra's leading lady in the detective film Lady in Cement.

5 of 16

1969: 20th Century Fox/Ronald Grant/Mary Evan

'100 Rifles'

In yet another western, Welch starred opposite James Brown (pictured) and Burt Reynolds. She played Sarita, a Native American woman fighting to end the government's oppression of her people.

6 of 16

1974: Courtesy of Raquel Welch

A Star of Stage and Screen

Raquel Welch provided this 1974 photo of herself in Paris. It was a good year for the actress, who won a best actress Golden Globe award for her sexy, swashbuckling role in The Three Musketeers.

'The Four Musketeers'

Raquel Welch returned as Constance Bonacieux — opposite Charlton Heston, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain and Michael York — in the musketeers sequel, The Four Musketeers.

9 of 16

1976: 20th Centurty Fox/Courtesy Everett Collection

'Mother, Jugs & Speed'

Although this '70s comedy was largely ignored at the box office, it has acquired somewhat of a cult status due to its talented cast (Harvey Keitel and Bill Cosby among them) and politically incorrect humor.

10 of 16

1982: Tony Kent/Sygma/Corbis

'Woman of the Year'

Welch wowed Broadway as the star of the musical Woman of the Year, which was based on the 1942 film of the same name.

11 of 16

1983: Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

Toast of Broadway

Welch signs autographs in Times Square, accompanied by her son Damon (near left) and Andre Weinfeld, her third husband.

12 of 16

1988: Bill Nation/Sygma/Corbis

Let's Get Physical

Jane Fonda wasn't the only sexy, age 40+ star making exercise videos in the 1980s.

13 of 16

1997: Robin Platzer/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

The Toast of Broadway (Again)

Accompanied by her daughter Tahnee, Welch attends an opening night party for her starring role in the musical Victor/Victoria.

14 of 16

2001: MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

Raquel Takes the Stand

Welch appeared on the big screen (and in a courtroom scene) as haughty socialite Mrs. Windham Vandermark in the Reese Witherspoon comedy LegallyBlonde.